Student Number : 0517437P -
MA dissertation -
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences -
Faculty of Humanities / A significant number of refugees and asylum seekers are living in urban areas in
developing countries. In addition to the fact that they receive little assistance from
international organizations, host government policies represent obstacles to their
livelihoods. Generally, the economic behaviour, reasons for migrating and experiences of
female migrants often differ from those of male. This research report examines the
impact of gender on social networks and how gender might influence access to income.
In contrast to other studies on social networks that focus on the social relationships
between individuals and communities located in sending and receiving societies, this
study produces greater understanding of urban migrants’ livelihoods by exploring how
women use social networks to generate income and contrasting these with those of men.
This is rooted in the assumption that women refugees are facing additional challenges to
livelihood including their social responsibilities and job stereotyping.
To document how gender might influence social networks and access to income,
qualitative data collected through semi structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews
among Congolese refugees in Johannesburg was used. Findings reveal that gender does
not have impact on the nature of social networks used by Congolese men and women to
facilitate their access to income generating activities. However, friendships and social
relations among Congolese refugees are based on gender and as a result Congolese
refugees may be channelled in gender-dominated occupations. Congolese women are
facing specific challenges such as domestic labour and child care that may limit their
access to jobs and businesses.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/2041 |
| Date | 16 February 2007 |
| Creators | Monche, Felix |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 257531 bytes, application/pdf, application/pdf |
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